Start Early

If you’re a member of the Semitic Tribes (AKA a “MOT”) you already know that there are a few essentials you have to have for Rosh Hashanah.

But if you’re a part of an interfaith family, or are even getting back in touch with your Judaism, you may need a little help.

Keep in mind that real preparations actually start during the month of Elul. During this month, members of your family can have a great time blowing the traditional Shofar, AKA the horn of a ram.

Kids especially love this.

Keep in mind that it’s not customary to blow the horn on Shabbos (Friday after sundown and most of Saturday.)

The Time For Prayer

The month of Elul is also the time to start saying the traditional “Selichot” prayers.

Though how and when specifically you pray depends on your interpretation of Judaism, in a nutshell, these are prayers where you ask for forgiveness for the sins you’ve committed in the past year.

In some customs, you may also actually ask for verbal forgiveness from friends or family members you feel you’ve hurt or wronged.

This is a wonderful way to teach your children about the importance of forgiveness and accepting responsibility for your actions.

The Basics

So, you’ve atoned — now, let’s move onto food!

First, make sure you get plenty of apples and honey. These symbolic foods stand for your wishes to have a “sweet” New Year. You’ll need to eat a lot of them, so a trip to a place like Costco — or an apple orchard for a cool family outing — is a must.

It’s also the time to bake some serious Challah bread, so stay perfecting your “braid” now. (You can always enjoy eating the “practice” loaves or donating them to a local food bank.)

You may also want to send some New Year’s cards to your friends and family members — handwritten is always best.

Planning A Party

In the end, if you’ve decided to have guests over for Rosh Hashanah (everyone will be grateful to you for getting them out of hosting) you should prepare as you would for any other celebration.

Of course, there are a few extra things you need to do to keep the traditions alive.